Editorial Focus, September 2009, Rebecca Cohen RN, EdD, HN-BC, AHNA eNews Editor

The American Holistic Nurses’ Certification Corporation (AHNCC) has created new guidelines for certification to encourage nurses to enhance their careers.  In an effort to learn more about the new options for holistic nurses, I interviewed Margaret Erickson, Director of AHNCC.

Margaret and I talked about the benefits and future of certifying holistic nurses. She stated that there has been a tremendous increase in requests not only about holistic nursing, but also about the certification process. Interestingly, many nurses are being very proactive and calling to say that they want to get certified eventually, but they have to get their degree first. They would like to find a nursing program that has a holistic background, approach and maybe a specialty in holistic nursing.  She refers them to the 14 U.S. programs endorsed by the AHNCC which you can find on the AHNCC website.

In addition, Margaret stated that she has seen an increase in calls from nurses around the world asking about holistic nursing, especially from Canada, Brazil, and the Middle East. Worldwide interest in holistic nursing and our process of certifying holistic nurses is growing.  

I truly enjoyed my talk with Margaret and loved her excitement about how holistic nursing is helping to shape health care.  She believes the concept of holistic nursing is infiltrating the health care system and becoming more valued by universities and hospitals, partly due to our recognition as a specialty by the ANA.   She feels that, as more holistic nurses become certified, we become more visible, respected, acknowledged, and empowered in having a voice in the process of health care reform. In addition, the certification has helped many nurses get salary increases.  Margaret sees the changes in health care bringing back a balance between technology and human caring that will bring exciting opportunities for holistic nurses.  As money and resources are more limited, we are given an opportunity to reconnect with our patients from a holistic perspective, facilitating healing and wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit.   This is an exciting time for us, we both agreed.

The purpose of changing the certification guidelines, according to Margaret, is to recognize the expertise and knowledge of non-baccalaureate holistic nurses.  Nurses who are certified can act as role models for other nurses, can enhance the visibility of holistic nursing and can help educate the public about holistic nursing. It will push holistic nursing into the forefront and acknowledge that there is an expertise to share with others. 

Margaret states that providing a certification for non-baccalaureate nurses does not diminish the value of the BSN. Rather, the certification tests are geared toward the different expectations of each individual degree conferred and recognize the knowledge and expertise of each. For example, the expectations regarding the use and knowledge of research varies between degrees.

The AHNCC now offers three certification levels: one for Holistic nurses without a baccalaureate degree, one for Holistic nurses with baccalaureate degrees, and one for holistic nurses with master’s degree. In addition, nurses with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing now have an opportunity to apply for the holistic nursing baccalaureate certification examination until December 31, 2009. 

1. Non-Baccalaureate Holistic Nurses:
   1. Starting August 1, 2009, AHNCC will accept applications from Non-Baccalaureate Holistic Nurses who wish to become certified as HN-BC Holistic Nurses.
   2. To qualify for an HN-BC, you must have a minimum of a nursing diploma or ADN.
   3. Current Handbook and Applications are now available online.
   4. What to do: Contact AHNCC immediately at AHNCC@flash.net and tell them you wish to take the HN-BC exam. Submit your application immediately to allow sufficient time to complete the Qualitative Assessment by November 15, 2009 and then enter the final phase of the process, the exam.
2. Holistic Nurses who have a Baccalaureate Degree:
   1. Effective April 1, 2009, all HN-BC Holistic Nurses with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university need to contact AHNCC immediately at AHNCC@flash.net and ask for the designation of HNB-BC. 
   2. You have until December 31, 2009 to ask to be grandfathered in to the new level of certification.
   3. At the time that you contact AHNCC,  you may begin to use the credential, HNB-BC.  
   4. When you are recertified, your new documents will show this new level of HNB-BC.
   5. After the December 31, 2009 deadline, if you have not contacted AHNCC you will retain the HN-BC credential and will have to take the exam to earn the HNB-BC designation.
   6. What to do: Contact AHNCC immediately at AHNCC@flash.net and make sure that they have your contact information up-to-date because they have been sending out e-mails to notify people of the changes.  Tell them what accredited university you graduated from and your current e-mail and home address.
   7. Remember, AHNCC and AHNA have separate data bases so you must contact each individually if your contact information changes.  
3. Nurses who have a BA or BS in a field other than nursing:
   1. You can apply for the HNB-BC exam until December 31, 2009 and must take the HNB-BC exam prior to October, 2010.
   2. Effective January 1, 2010, a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing will be required for the HNB-BC credential.
   3. What to do: Contact AHNCC immediately at AHNCC@flash.net, tell them you want to take the exam to earn the HNB-BC certification. 
   4. If you have not applied to take the HNB-BC exam by the end of 2009, or sign up but do not take the exam by October, 2010, you will not be able to take the exam.
4. Nurses with a Master’s degree in Nursing:
   1. There are no changes to receive an AHN-BC.